Positive drive cam plate dispensing mechanism



POSITIVE DRIVE GAM PLATE DISPENSING MECHANISM Filed March 17, 1965 F. A. MCROY July 12, 1966 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 FRANK AMCROY anmon,

ATTORNEY' F. A. MCROY 3,260,407

POSITIVE DRIVE CAM PLATE DISPENSING MECHANISM July 12, 1966 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 1'7, 1965 INVENTOR 'E`RANK A-MCROY @amf/n, wfz

ATTORNEYS POSITIVE DRIVE CAM PLATE DISPENSING MECHANISM Filed March 17, 1965 F. A. MCROY July 12, 1966 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR BYFRAN K. A ,MCROY M70) @M SLM@ ATTORNEY POSITIVE DRIVE CAM PLATE DISPENSING MECHANISM Filed March 17, 1965 F. A. MCROY July 12, 1966 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN VENTOR FRAN KA .MCROY @gnam/a, @b/mm ATTORNEYS POSITIVE DRIVE CAM PLATE DISPENSING MEGHANISM Filed March 17, 1965 F. A. MCROY July 12, 1966 6 Sheets-Sheet o INVENTOR ATTORNEYS POSITIVE DRIVE CAM PLATE DIsPENsING MEcHANIsM Filed MICh 17, 1965 F. A. MCROY July 12, 1966 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR PRANK A MCROY BY Z Mw Wm 9L ATTORNEYS United States Patent O 3,260,407 POSITIVE BREVE CAM PLATE DISPENSING MEiI-IANISM Frank A. lVlcRoy, Chattanooga, Tenn., assignor to The Seeburg Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Filed Mar. 17, 1965, Ser. No. 440,449 7 Claims. (Cl. 221-298) The eopending application of James C. Lindsey and Frank A. McRoy, Serial No. 254,680, iled January 29, 1963, now Patent No. 3,175,728, discloses a cam plate dispensing mechanism Kand the present invention relates to such mechanisms having a positively driven cam plate.

This invention relates to mechanisms for dispensing articles one at a time from a vertical stack of articles.

More particularly this invention relates to mechanisms tfor dispensing one article at a time from a vertical stack of articles in which, upon deposit of a coin, an electrically actuated Isolenoid moves a lock plate to release a pair of support rods which move to permit the article to rest upon lowering rods. The motion of the lowering rods is provided by a positively driven cam plate mechanism. The lowering rods in their driven downward movement are followed by cams on the positively driven cam plate which return ythe support rods to their initial position beneath 'the next article in the stack of articles before the rst article is dispensed. lack-plotting of `the machine is prevented 'by the positive drive of the cam plate so that the lowering rods are always returned to their upper position.

Heretofore, various mechanisms have been proposed for dispensing one article at a time from a vertical sta'ck of articles, such articles being bottles, cans, cartons, and the like, hereinafter referred Ito ffor convenience as bo-tlftlos. In most of these prior devices the bottle after dispensing is permitted `to fall by gravity to a .position accessible to the user of the mechanism. Considerable damage to the Ibottles has been experienced by reason of this free gravity fail.

The present dispensing mechanism not only dispenses 'but one bottle at a time from a vertical stack of bottles, while preventing removal of more than one bottle at a time from lthe mechanism, but also positively controls the downward movement of the released bottle so -that the lsame is delivered to position accessible to the user of the mechanism with minimum free fall and without damage ro the bottle.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a novel cam plate mechanism for dispensing a single bottle at a time from a vertical stack of bottles in which a lock plate is moved when the mechanism is actuated, as by the deposit of a coin, to release bottle support rods which move to permit the bottle to rest upon bottle lowering rods. Downward movement of the lowering rods is provided lby a positively driven cam plate mechanism so that lthe bottle moves to dispensing position at a controlled rate, the downward move-ment .of the lowering rods being followed by cams on the positively 4driven cam plate )to cam the bottle support rods to position 'beneath the next bottle in the stack and to lock the bottle support rods under this next bottle until the lock plate returns to locking position thus preventing jackpotting of the mechanism.

Another object of the present invention is to provide such :a cam plate dispensing mechanism in which the downward movement of the lowering rods is positively provided by a positively driven tcarn plate receiving the lowering rods which cam plate is progressively lowered during the dispensing cycle to permit the lowering rods to move to dispensing position. The cam plate is then ice positively driven upward to return the lowering rod to their upper stand-by position.

Another object o-f the present invention is 'to provide a positively driven cam plate dispensing mechanism in which the positively driven downward movement of the cam plate returns the lock plate `to its normal position to lock lthe bottle support rods in bottle supporting po- SIOD.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a positively driven Icam plate dispensing mechanism in which the cam plate is positively driven during its entire cycle of movement downwardly to bottle dispensing position and upwardly therefrom |to return the lowering rods to their normal position to prevent malfunctioning olf the mechanism which otherwise might occur by reason of icing of parts, dirt in moving parts or excess friction in nro-ving parts due rto rust and the like.

Another object of the present invention is to provide such a cam plate dispensing mechanism which is positive and certain in its operation; which is reasonably inexpensive to manufacture and to maintain; and which is suitable for use with each of a plurality of vertical side by side stacks of bottles in la dispenser, the cam plate mechanism for the lowering rotls then being common to all of -the mechanisms.

Other and further objects of the present invention will appear from the following description `of an illustrative embodiment thereof.

The present invention is capable of various mechanircal embodiments, a preferred embodiment being shown in the accompanying drawings land is described hereinafter to illustrate the invention. Flhis illustrative and preferred embodiment should not be construed as defining or limiting the invention.

In the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters indicate like parts, FIG. 1 is a front view of an illustrative and preferred embodiment of the cam plate dispensing mechanism of the present invention showing the drive motor support plate partially out away to sli'ow the cam plate and the lowering rods for two stacks of (bottles at the right of the ligure, a plurality of stacksrof bottles being shown in side Iby side relationship with a dispensing mechanism for each stack;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to that of FIG. l with the motor support plate removed and the cam plate cut-away in part to show the structure behind it;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3 3 of FIG. 2 with the latch plate in locking position and the support rods in bottle support position;

FIG. 4 :is a view in section of the embodiment of FIG. 2 on the line 4 4 thereof with the latch plate lifted and the support rods moved to drop the lowermost bottle on the lowering rods;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 2 with the left latch plate lifted; the support rods thereof withdrawn; and the cam plate and lowering rods moved partially downward;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to that of FIG. 5 with the cam plate in further partially ylowered position just prior to moving the support rods of the left stack back to their initial position and to lock them there, with the lowering rods approaching bottle dispensing position;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to that of FIG. 5 showing the mechanism of the left stack in bottle dispensing position;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the cam surfaces and lowering rod slots in the cam plate of FIG. 1 showing the slot receiving the drive roller for positively driving the cam plate; and

FIG. 9 is a partial cross-sectional View looking toward the rear of the mechanism.

Referring now to the several figures, the mechanism is provided with a face plate or front wall 10 of suitable width to accommodate as many stacks of bottles as may be desired, six such stacks of bottles being shown but more or fewer stacks can be utilized. The stacks and mechanism for each stack Iare here sh-own alternately staggered vertically for compactness and so that the mechanism of adjacent stacks will not interfere. Front wall 10 is provided with upper forwardly extending ange 12 and lower forwardly extending pin 13 for each stack of bottles (FIGS. 3 and 4) ange 12 being suitably slotted at 14 to slidably receive lock plate 16 which slides on pin 13. Tracks 17 and 18, mounted in front of plate 10, receive cam plate 19. Cam plate 19 is cutaway at 20 to expose solenoids 21 which are mounted on front wall 10. Cam plate 19 is spaced from solenoids 21 so that both cam plate 19 and `lock plates 16 can reciprocate vertically. Lock plate 16 is provided with shoulder 23 and is further provided with spaced shoulders 24 and 25 for purposes which will hereinafter be described. Cam plate 19 is slotted at 26 (FIG. 8) as will be more fully described hereinafter and has horizontal slot 27 for the driving motor roller. Downwardly extending portions 28 and 29 are mounted on and are spaced from plate 19 (FIG. 8). Portion 28 is provided with cam surface 30 and portion 29 is provided with cam surface 31. Also mounted on plate 19 and spaced therefrom are downwardly extending portions 32 and 33 providing cam surfaces for the support rods of the next stack, all for purposes more fully described hereinafter.

Solenoids 21 are provided with armatures 34 which are connected at 35 to lock plates 16.

Suitable partitions 36 and 37 (FIGS. 5 and 6) are mounted between front wall 10 and back wall 38 (FIG. 9) to provide .a bin for the bottles vin vertical stack, the bottles being generally indicated at 39 (FIG. 4). For each stack of bottles, an arm 40 is pivotally mounted at 41 on the front of wall 10 and support rod 42 passes through and is secured to an end thereof. Rod 42 extends through an opening 43 in wall 10 to rear wall 38 where it is secured to arm 44 which is pivoted to wall 38 `at 45 (FIG. 9). Rod 42 can therefore swing from its position as shown in FIG. 2 in clockwise movement to the position shown in FIGS. and 6.

-An arm 45' is mounted on pivot 44 and receives and holds lowering rod 46. Rod 46 passes through wall 10 and is arranged for downward clockwise rotary movement in opening 47 therein. Rod 46 extends to back wall 38 and is secured to arm 48 which in turn is pivotally mounted thereon at 48. Lowering rod 46 is extended to pass through and for engagement in the adjacent slot 26 in cam plate 19.

A second support rod 50 is mounted opposite support rod 42. An arm 51 supports rod 50 and is pivoted to front wall at 52. -Rod 50 extends through front wall 10 in opening 53. Rod 50 extends to rear wall 38 where it is provided with an arm 54 similar to arm 44 which arm 54 is in turn pivoted to back wall 38 at 54.

A second lowering rod 55 is mounted opposite lowering rod 46 and extends through adjacent slot 26 in cam plate 19 and through opening 47 in wall 10. Rod 55 is supported by arm 57 which is pivotally mounted on pivot 56. IRod 55 extends to rear wall 38 where it is supported by an arm 57' similar to arm 48 which in turn is pivotally mounted on rear wall 38 at 56.

A motor support plate 58 is secured to the front of tracks 17 and 18. Plate 18 is cut away at 59 and a suitable electric motor 60 is mounted thereon adjacent opening 59. Motor `60 drives shaft 61 carrying arm 62 which in turn supports roller 63 which is received in horizontal slot 27 in cam plate 19. Energization of motor 60 rotates arm 62 and arm 62 acting through roller 63 in slot 27 positively moves cam plate 19 vertically in tracks 17 and 18 from an upper stand-by position to a lower bottle dispensing position and return to stand-by position. Lowering rods 46 and 55 are therefore retained in upper position 4 by plate 18 and motor 60 in turn holds cam plate 19 in upper position as seen in FIG. l.

As indicated above, the present mechanism is particularly suitable for coin actuation whereby upon the deposit of a suitable coin a single bottle is dispensed from the selected stack of bottles. Any suitable and well known type of coin receiving mechanism can be employed which upon deposit of the coin closes an electric circuit through wires 67 and `68 to solenoid 21 and at the same time energizes electric motor 6() through switch 66 mounted on motor plate 58 in cut-away portion 59 and leads 69 and 70, solenoid 21 being deenergized after approximately 5 rotation of motor 60. Electric motor 60, upon energization, makes but one complete revolution of arm 62 in counterclockwise rotation as seen in FIG. 1 from the position shown in FIG. l moving cam plate 19 through bottle dispensing position shown in FIG. 7 and return to the position of FIG. 1 with cam plate 19 in raised position.

Assuming now that the embodiment of the present invention as shown in the drawings is in stand-by position as seen in FIG. 1 with support rods 42 and 50 of the third stack from the right locked in position by shoulders 24 and of lock plate 16 and with lowering rods 46 and 55 engaged in slot 26 and raised to their upper position by cam plate 19 (FIGS. 5, 6 and 7). When a coin is deposited solenoid 21 is energized raising armature 34 which, in turn, raises lock plate 16. Shoulders y24 and 2S of lock plate 16 then disengage from rods 50 and 42 and rods 50 and 42 move away from each other and beneath cam surfaces and 31 of elements 28 and 29. Movement apart of rods and 42 permits bottle 39 to move downwardly onto lowering rods 46 and 55. Lock plate 16 cannot return to its lower locking position since it is resting upon rods 42 and 5t). This portion of the cycle of the mechanism is seen in FIG. 5, it being particularly noted in FIG. 5 that plate 16 rests on rods 42 and 50.

When solenoid 21 is energized, motor 60 is also energized and commences rotation of arm 62, solenoid 21 beling deenergzed after approximately 5 rotation of motor 60. Since cam plate 19 supports lowering rods 46 and in slot `26, lowering rods 46 and 55 can move downwardly under the weight of bottle 39 only as cam plate 19 moves downwardly. As lowering rods 46 .and 55 descend they are maintained in parallel relationship by slot 26 in cam plate 19. By reason of engagement of rods 46 and 55 in slot 26, cam plate 19 drives rods 46 and 55 downwardly. Movement of cam plate 19 downwardly brings cam surfaces 30 and 31 into engagement with support rods 50 and 42, respectively. This stage of the cycle of operation of the present mechanism is seen in FIG. 6 where rods 50 and 42 have been engaged by the cam surfaces 30 and 31, respectively, for movement toward their initial positions. Further downward movement of cam plate 19 as arm 62 is rotated moves rods 5t) and 42 to their initial positions and beneath the next bottle 39 in the stack. As rods 50 and 42 move from beneath the shoulders on lock plate 16, lock plate 16 is moved downwardly by bracket 64 on plate 19 engaging shoulder 23 on lock plate 16 so that shoulders 24 and 25 engage behind rods 50 and 42, respectively, to lock .them in position and prevent release of the next bottle 39. This stage of the cycle of the mechanism is shown in FIG. 6. Jack-potting of the machine is prevented by the positive drive of lock plate `16 to locking position. It should also be noted from FIG. 6 that lower-ing rods 46 and 55 are now moved apart in slot 26 preparatory to dispensing bottle 39 resting thereon.

Further rotation of arm 62 permits rods 46 and 55 to move further apart in slot 26 by reason of the weight of bottle 39 thereon when cam plate 19 is driven to its lowermost position as seen in FIG. 7. When rods 46 and 55 approach the ends of slot 26 bottle 39 resting on rods 46 and 55 passes between them and moves to dispensing position. At this time in the cycle of operation of the mechanism arm 62 has performed approximately onehalf a revolution.

Continuing rotation of arm 62 now raises cam plate 19 and cam plate .19 engaging rods 416 and 55 in slot 26, lift them upwardly and move them toward each other in slot Z6. Cam plate 19 continues in upward movement until elements 28 and 29 are raised above support rods 42 and 50 so that rods 42 and 50 are locked in position only by shoulders 24 and 25, respectively, of lock plate 16. Further upward movement of cam plate 19 moves cam surfaces 30 and 31 above rods 50 `and 42, respectively, until arm 62 reaches its upper position and engages and opens switch 66 at which point energization of motor 60 terminates. The mechanism is now in stand-by position and ready for the next cycle of oper-ation.

It should now be apparent that the present invention in every way satisfies the objectives discussed above.

Changes in or modications to the above-described illustrative embodiment of the .present invention may now be suggested to those skilled in the art without departing from the present inventive concept. Reference should therefore be had to the appended claims to determine the scope of this invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a dispensing mechanism, a bin for articles .in vertical stack, a pair yof support rods movably mounted beneath the lowermost article in said bin, a pair of lowering rods beneath said support rods, a lock plate in restraining engagement with :said support rods, means for moving said lock plate out of restra-ining engagement with said support rods for movement of said support rods, a cam plate, cam `surfaces `on said cam plate for engaging said support rods, said cam plate being engaged by said lowering rods and motor means positively driving said cam plate and positively driving said lowering rods whereby when said support rods are released for movement by weight of the stack of articles thereon the slide thereon is moved to and is supported by said lowering rods and said -motor means drives said lowering rods to article dispensing position regardless of the Weight of the articles on said lowering rods, said cam plate moving said cam surfaces to position engaging and moving sa-id support rods to supporting position beneath the next article in the stack when the next article moves to position adjacent said support rods during dispensing of the preceding article.

2. Mechanism as described in claim 1 including a slot in said cam plate, said lowering rods extending through said slot for said engagement with said cam plate.

3. Mechanism as described in claim 1, said means for moving sa-id lock plate comprising a solenoid `and an armature for said solenoid connected to 'said lock plate.

4. Mechanism as described in claim 1, said motor means including an electric motor, a shaft rotated by said motor, an arm on said `shaft and a horizontal slot in said cam plate engaged by said arm.

15. In a dispensing mechanism, a bin for articles in vertical stack, a pair of opposed spaced support rods mounted beneath 4the lowermost article in the stack in said bin for relative movement, a lock plate engaging said support rods and restraining them against movement, means for disengaging said lock plate from said support rods freeing them for relative movement by the weight of the stack of articles thereon, a pair of opposed spaced lowering rods mounted in said bin beneath said support rods receiving the lowermiost article in the stack from sa-id support rods for downward movement to article dispensing position, a movable cam plate, means for coupling said lowering rods to said cam plate, cam surfaces on said cam plate for engaging said support rods w-hen said cam plate is driven toward article dispensing position for return of said support rods to article support position for the next article in the stack when said lowering rods are adjacent article dispensing position and motor means positively engaging and driving said cam plate and positively driving said lowering rods.

6. Mechanism as described in claim 5, said coupling means including a slot extending partially across said cam plate, said lowering rod extending through said slot.

7. Mechanism as `described in claim 5, said means for d-isengaging said lock plate comprising a solenoid and an armature for said :solenoid connected to said lock plate, said motor means compris-ing an electric motor, a shaft rotated by said motor, an arm mounted on said shaft and a .horizontal slot in said cam plate, said arm engaging in said horizontal slot.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,107,812 10/1963 Payne et al. 221-67 3,118,567 1/1964 Newberry 221-297 X 3,125,245 3/1964 Newberry 221-114 3,151,770 10/1964 Payne 221-298 X 3,151,772 10/1964 Payne 221-67 3,158,290 `11/1964 Hailey et al 221-67 X 3,175,728 3/1965 Lindsey et al 221-15 3,189,218 6/1965 Gasparini et al. 221-129 X 3,224,631 12/1965 Payne 221-67 ROBERT B. REEVES, Primary Examiner.

W. SOBIN, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A DISPENSING MECHANISM, A BIN FOR ARTICLES IN VERTICAL STACK, A PAIR OF SUPPORT RODS MOVABLY MOUNTED BENEATH THE LOWERMOST ARTICLE IN SAID BIN, A PAIR OF LOWERING RODS BENEATH SAID SUPPORT RODS, A LOCK PLATE IN RESTRAINING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID SUPPORT RODS, MEANS FOR MOVING SAID LOCK PLATE OUT OF RESTRAINING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID SUPPORT RODS FOR MOVEMENT OF SAID SUPPORT RODS, A CAM PLATE, CAM SURFACES ON SAID CAM PLATE FOR ENGAGING SAID SUPPORT RODS, SAID CAM PLATE BEING ENGAGED BY SAID LOWERING RODS AND MOTOR MEANS POSITIVELY DRIVING SAID CAM PLATE AND POSITIVELY DRIVING SAID LOWERING RODS WHEREBY WHEN SAID SUPPORT RODS ARE RELEASED FROM MOVEMENT BY WEIGHT OF THE STACK OF ARTICLES THEREON THE SLIDE THEREON IS MOVED TO AND IS SUPPORTED BY SAID LOWERING RODS AND SAID MOTOR MEANS DRIVES SAID LOWERING RODS TO ARTICLES DISPENSING POSITION REGARDLESS OF THE WEIGHT OF THE ARTICLES ON SAID LOWERING RODS, SAID CAM PLATE MOVING SAID CAM SURFACES TO POSITION ENGAGING AND MOVING SAID SUPPORT RODS TO SUPPORTING POSITION BENEATH THE NEXT ARTICLE IN THE STACK WHEN THE NEXT ARTICLE MOVES TO POSITION ADJACENT SAID SUPPORT RODS DURING DISPENSING OF THE PRECEDING ARTICLE. 